AS the old song goes 'There's no business like show business´ and this month sees flower shows taking place up and down the country.

Just last week a keen lady gardener sent me a picture of a pot of wild flowers grown from seed that she got at a gardening talk organised by Gourock Horticultural Society who meet at Cardwell Garden Centre.

She was so pleased with her effort that she has decided to enter her picture in the on-line Gardenfest Competition being promoted by Cardwell, entries for which close on  August 25.

Greenock Telegraph:

Around Inverclyde there are a number of flower shows taking place during this month and into next month and if you have never entered a flower show before now is the time to think about having a go.

The first local show takes place on the Glorious Twelth, the date when the grouse shooting begins, and the keen allotment gardeners at Caddlehill Allotments will be up early getting their entries ready for the show bench.

The judging takes place in the morning and the gates open to the public at 2pm with an entry charge of £3 per person, which includes tea/coffee and a cake.

There should be some fresh produce for sale also. This show is open to plot-holders, some of them fairly new to staging entries on the show bench. Do come along and support them and enjoy an hour or so in the fresh air.

A week later, on August 26, the seaside show at Largs takes place in the Dunn Memorial Hall in Bath Street and the doors open at 10am until 4pm.

Although there will be no tearoom there will be a raffle with some excellent prizes to be won.

The show will incorporate items of baking and floral art and entries from children of local schools and children’s groups. If you wish to enter this show, bear in mind that there are beginner classes and therefore you can try your skill and who knows – you may just be lucky.

A few weeks later on Saturday September 2 the Kilmacolm Flower Show takes place in the community centre in Lochwinnoch Road at Kilmacolm Cross.

Greenock Telegraph:

Opening is 11am until 3.30pm and there will be a raffle and sale of produce at the end of the show.

Again, there will be displays of floral art and some delicious items of baking and jams and jellies.

Greenock Telegraph:

Children classes will also be competed for prizes in the show and some very interesting items are sure to grace the benches.

What to do if you want to participate in a local flower show?

The first step is to obtain a copy of the show schedule, which can be got from the show secretary.

Once you have your copy of the schedule read through it and this will let you know all the classes that are in the show.

Read the schedule carefully and select items that you may have available to enter in the show.

Pay particular attention to the number of items needed for each class.

For example the schedule will specify the number of potatoes required in a class or the number of flowers needed in a vase- which will be supplied by the society.

Should the wrong number of items be entered in the classes you may be down-pointed or disqualified by the judges.

In baking classes and items of fruit the show schedule will specify how the entries should displayed and if you are unsure just as the show convener or show secretary who will be only too pleased to help you.

All entries need to be placed on the bench before the judging commences and details of the staging times will be given in the show schedule. Exhibitors are not allowed in the hall during the judging.

Taking part in any flower show can be fun and you will soon learn more and more as the years go by. Just remember that everyone started at the bottom of the ladder just like you and soon you will catch up with them in little or no time. Join the Society and attend talks during the winter months and learn a host of hints and tips.

Some General Hints About Exhibiting at A Flower Show.

Always read the show schedule thoroughly several times.

Take extra items with you to the show – always have a few spare flowers with you in case one gets damaged in transit and the same applies to vegetables.

Ensure that pots are clean and even take a spare entry with you to ensure one does not get damaged. Drive carefully to the show to eliminate the possibility of damaging an exhibit in transit.

Fill in your entry card neatly and legibly when you get to the show so that the stewards can read them clearly. Always stage your entries under the watchful eye of the stewards and do not handle any entry which does not belong to you. If something needs moving the stewards will undertake this task for you.

Once the judging is over and the public are allowed into the hall you can go and look at your entries and see how you got on.